Bracelet or pendant watchcase



March 3, 1936.

J. GOLDBLATT H 2,032,696

BRACELET OR PENDANT WATCHCASE Filed Oct. 15, 1932 INVENTOR Jase viz Go/ G b/621, Z

Xs ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph Goldblatt,

Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application October 15, 1932, Serial No. 637,914

6 Claims.

This invention relates to bracelets in particular, and also in some forms may apply to pendants or the like, and has for its object the provision of a jeweled or decorative casing normally as such element of a bracelet, pendant or the like, but at the same time constituting a closure or cover for a watch face, so arranged as to readily permit the temporary displacement of the cover and permit observation of the Watch. It involves the construction of the cover to meet the requirements of ornamentation, and its combination with the watch and watch supports in conjunction with the bracelet members holding the entire device to the wrist, or the pendant supporting chain or other elements.

In the embodiment of my invention variations may be made from the particular form herein shown and described, but in a preferred form I support an open face watch with frame by the 29 bracelet straps or chains, with the watch frame so constructed as to carry directly and securely an articulated low-domed cover made in two substantially similar parts, each of which simultaneously hinge on the Watch frame in a manner that permits their opening to reveal the watch face, and simultaneously close and lock together, and lock both securely to the watch frame so that normally in the closed position the entire bejeweled casing is a solidly secured unit with the bracelet or pendant well adapted to hold any expensive gems and form in all outward appearance solely an ornamental part of the bracelet or pendant.

The construction furthermore provides for the secure support of the bifurcated cover when in open position, temporarily for time observation, or for the observation of the contents of the enclosed frame. Means are provided for simultaneously separating the two parts, and likewise the construction provides for the registering of the joint of the two parts to securely close the aperture and lock the joint between the two parts for strength and protection, as well as giving the outward appearance of a single unit structure without any outward evidence of the contents under the cover.

In the form shown it will be noted in particular that a strong frame provides for the attachment of the wrist-encircling chain or band, in order to provide a substantial support for the. entire unit. The watch movement is supported within the frame, and the back of the watch movement may form. the underside of the frame in any manner desired, closing it as a plate or as part of the watch movement, part in the frame and part below the level of the frame and varied in many respects. The watch being visible from the outer side of the frame when not covered by the articulated cover is so arranged that, as in the form shown, two parts spring open laterally, pivoting in the same plane as the upper surface of the frame, but variations may be made as to the pivot and as to the means of springing them outwardly, and stopping them at a predetermined position in order that desired strength of the parts is provided for practical use. While in the form shown there are two parts domed or substantially convex, the casing parts may be elongated and may be only slightly curved in order to cover the face of the watch and protect it with sufiicient strength to prevent indentation or bending of the articulated cover, in order to prevent breakage of the watch crystal or watch parts, while still providing a sealed outer front to the bracelet or pendant device or article.

2 As originally set forth, the decorations of the case or cover may be made in any desired manner, as I have provided for jewel mounting, chasing, enameling or any other decorative effect,,and the shape of outline and the surface formation may similate articles such as is usual in jewelry, in order that the appearance when closed is essentially a decorative unit, and any concealed timepiece isnot disclosed by outward appearance.

The drawing forming a part hereof comprises:

Fig. I is a plan view approximating normal size of a wrist watch with the casing embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation on a much enlarged scale, of the watch cover and support.

Fig. III is a plan view on the same scale as Fig. II, and showing the wrist watch chain supports and in part the embellishment or engraved decoration of the two-part casing with its locking and opening means.

Fig. IV is a plan view on the same scale as Fig. III, showing the two-part casing opened revealing the face of the watch.

Fig. V is a part section on the line V-V of Fig. IV with the rear cover plate in elevation and watch movement omitted.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary view on a still larger scale, of the means of locking and simultaneously releasing the two sections of the casing.

The first of these views illustrate how the decconnection accommodates the features of construction involving my invention, as hereinafter set forth.

In Fig. I the central member of the bracelet l is a circular casing, though in other forms, still containing my invention, other shapes may be used, while the connections 2 on opposite sides will in one place embody the latch or voluntary release providing for automatic locking of the two parts of the cover, indicated in two parts by the two halves l and I meeting at the joint 3, which may be practically non-apparent or merging into the decorative finish of the cover as a' whole. a A r In the other figures, 4 is the main frame to which brackets 5 are secured to accommodate the wrist encircling and securing means. The bottom 6 is a casing normally carrying the watch movement, in my preferred form, with any suitable means of secure attachment to the frame 4, in which the bezel I and l accommodate the watch crystal 8 covering the watch face 9.

To the frame 4 I secure the two parts 10 and Ill of the cover hinged at II to give them rigid support to swing about an axis in rigid relation to the frame. A spring shown in dotted lines I2, is secured to the inside of the two cover parts, and preferably abuts against the pivot or hinge members, being formed in such manner and of such dimensions that the spring will force the two parts away from each other and into the open position to permit free observation of the watch dial. The extent of opening movement is limited by stops Ill-43 secured to the frame 4 which are recessed to engage and hold the guide member M, which is a rigidly secured bar having a lower surface in the same plane as the upper surface of the frame 4, and an upright member Hi secured to the underside of each cover member so that it is held in rigid position and forms a guide assuring stiffness of the cover halves, and alsoassuring their swing in the plane controlled by the arrangement of the hinge I l thus giving rigidity to the casing and protecting it in cooperation with the pivot, to securely hold it with its jeweled surface or embellished surface, as a permanent, though articulated cover, on the bracelet or pendant.

To securely lock the two parts and keep them normally in' closed position, so that they constitute the decorative unit as the central member of a bracelet, I provide a latch which by a simple operation assures both members of the cover snapping open simultaneously.

While this look is minute in practice, I have shown one form in which parts are enlarged for purposes of illustration, which comprises the opening knob or button I5 on a stem l6 projecting into a small casing IT, with a head on the stem and a spring l8 cooperating to hold the knob or button normally in, that is in the position where the latch members l9l9 will be forced against the cover parts with their pawls 2U20 on each side engaging the projecting teeth 2l2l on the edge of each cover when in closed position juxtaposed to the latch. In the latch member I9 I provide a spring 22 suitably pivoted so that a slight tension assures the forcing of the pawlengagement with the teeth and the assured locking of the latch to the two, parts of the cover when closed. The casing I! with its latch is secured to the frame 4, and is so closed as to protect the minute parts contained in the mechanism. V

' While an embodiment of my invention is shown herein and described in one form, so made it constitutes a satisfactory and rigid structure to carry jewels and permit the ready opening and the simultaneous closing of both parts and their locking with a practically invisible joint, so that as a central member of a bracelet they appear as a decoration and are used as such without any showing of the watch, and also without any face or crystal of the watch being subject to marring or breaking'by accidental contactin the movement of the wrist, or in the handling of the article when used as a pendant or the like.

' In other forms I may articulate the parts of the casing in various ways, provided the required 4 mainframe carried by the wrist encircling members, is also assured for the preservation of gems mounted in the casing, and also for the safe preservation of. the decorative parts of the casing which may be of expensive enameled configuration with designs, and formed of platinum or gold, all of which constitute for the purposes of a bracelet or pendant decorative member an expensive article required for practical purposes, and security of all the parts in conjunction with the other characteristics of the structure. I may mount the two parts of my cover at two separated hinges or pivots, provided the arrangement is such that upon closing the same they will with certainty engage at their abutting edges and form, when closed, a tight joint for both protection and solidity of the closed structure to meet all the requirements of use.

Variations may be made in the shape, which as shown in the enlarged scale has a low dome that is not objectionable as to size to the extent of interfering with the manipulation of the bracelet or pendant, but may be formed flatter or of other shapes provided the joints when closed register exactly to form a closed cover without any particular evidence of being a cover, but constituting simply an ornamental pendant or central bracelet member. Variations may also be made'from the circular form in plan, with an elongated shape or oval, or otherwise, so long as the parts are so supported for articulation so that they may be opened, and when closed constitute a complete cover in a form adapted to carry the ornamentation by jeweling, enameling, or otherwise. Likewise, while the size shown in the enclosed illustration accommodates a very small size of watch movement such as seven ligne, the production for use will depend upon the individual desires or fashion, but in particular my construction is adapted to constitute a decorative or bejeweled ornament as a braceletpiece or pendant, and still so constructed as to pros vide for voluntary simple opening to reveal a timepiece. Thus my invention is particularly adapted to wrist watch construction in which a practically concealed watch is provided with a predominance of the decorative feature as the main piece of a bracelet or pendant, with the protected or concealed portion known only to the user who may also, if desired, secrete small articles in the closed cover should itbe desired to make the construction accommodate anything beyond the watch face.

While many variations may be made without departing from my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ornamental member for a bracelet, pendant or thelike comprising a casing having a frame, said frame having an opening of two different diameters adjacent the back and the front and integral means for the attachment of a chain, bend or the like, a convex cover formed in two parts pivoted to the front of said frame and adapted to swing with the edges of the cover moving in the plane of the front surface of the frame, and in closed position forming a sealed joint with the frame, a spring cooperating with the pivot of the two parts of the cover and adapted to open the same, a latch on the frame diametrically opposite to the pivot adapted to engage and lock the two parts of the cover in closed position on the frame and a closure for the back of said frame independent of the front cover.

2. A decorative member for a bracelet consisting of a casing having a front cover comprising two parts each pivoted for lateral movement, a frame to support the front cover having on opposite sides wrist encircling chains or like members, an opening in said frame having different diameters adjacent the front and back thereof, a closure removably secured to said frame to seal the back, a latch secured to the frame for engagement of the abutting sides of the cover to auto-- matically lock the two parts of the cover in closed position, a single means for releasing the latch to permit the separation of the two parts of the cover and means for separating the two parts automatically a predetermined distance.

3. A bracelet including a casing having a frame and chain or like wrist encircling members attached thereto, an opening in the rear of said frame adapted for the insertion of a watch dial or other article to be supported in said casing, a cover on the front of said frame comprising two parts hinged at a common point on the frame and having an opening spring, the parts of the cover being swingable laterally, and an automatically locking latch on the frame for securing the casing parts in closed postion.

4. An article of the character described, comprising an open frame forming a, ring member,

a convex cover, consisting of two parts pivoted to move laterally and adapted when closed to seal the front of said ring member, the cover constituting a jewel mounting, the parts when opened revealing the interior of the article, means to limit each of the parts in their lateral movement and in open position holding each part of the cover in rigid engagement with the frame, and having means on said frame adapted to carry a bracelet, and a latch on said frame to lock the two parts together when closed.

5. In combination a member for a bracelet, pendant or the like, comprising a frame with an opening having two different diameters adjacent the front and the back thereof, said frame having connections to secure wrist encircling members or the like, a pivotally supported and articulated cover for one side of the frame, a pivotal connection for said cover permitting the cover to be moved laterally parallel to the plane of the frame to reveal the contents of the member, means to automatically move said cover laterally to open position, the cover when closed covering the contents, and means to lock the cover in closed position on the frame.

6. A pendant member or center piece for a bracelet, comprising a ring or frame member, wrist-band or chain-attaching means on said frame, a two-part domed cover forming the front of the member, pivots connecting each part of the dome with the frame, means to automatically swing the dome parts to open position, means on the dome edges and adjacent means on the frame cooperating to hold each part of the dome cover securely to the frame in open position, and means to simultaneously lock the abutting edges of both dome parts into rigidly closed position, whereby when closed the pendant member or center piece is an effective secure unit adapted for the purpose described.

JOSEPH GOLDBLATT. 

